Car-brake.



G. M. BRAHAM & J. LILL.

GAR BRAKE. APPLICATION IILBD HA3. 6, 1909.

Patented May 10, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. M. BRAHAM & J. LILL. GAB BRAKE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1909.

957,408. Patented May 10, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHHBT 2.

G. M. BRAHAM & J. LILL. GAR BRAKE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1909.

95 7,408. Patented May 10, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

tin 'rnn sra GEORGE M. BBAHAM AND JOE-IN LILL, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA.

CAR-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May it), 1910 Application filed. March 6, 1909. Serial No.481,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE M. BRAI-IAM and JOHN LILL, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar-Brakes; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in railway car brakes, and moreparticularly to the manner in which the b "akeshoe is -carried andoperated.

The object of this invention is to suspend each brakeshoe independentlyfrom the truck and to provide a means for positively operating thebrakeshoes when desired. The operating mechanism is so constructed as tobe wholly carried by the truck in such a manner that it cannot becomedetached therefrom and fall upon the ties. The advantages of such aconstruction are obvious. The brake beam in general use is dispensedwith so that by this construction no accidents can occur by the brakebeam becoming detached and falling upon the railroad ties.

While the preferred forms of this invention are illustrated upon theaccompanying sheets of drawing, yet it is to be understood that minordetail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a car truck to which this invention isapplied. Fig. 2 is a transverse view partly in section. Figs. 3 and 4.are detail views. Fig. 5 is a side elevation with parts broken away.Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View with parts broken away and in section.

The wheels A are mounted upon a truck provided with a transom formed ofparallel vertical panels O and G joining the opposite truck frames B atpoints between the wheels. In proximity to the center of the inner sideof each wheel a brakeshoe e is suspended from the upper portion of thetruck frame and is connected by a spring to the adjacent panel of thetransom which will normally retain the brakeshoe out of contact with thewheel. To the center of each brakeshoe an operating bar 7 is pivoted Iand mounted to slide upon a horizontal bearing carried by the side panelof the transom. The inner end of the operating bar is provided with ananti-friction roller 0. The operating bars on the same side of the truckframe are in line with each other and are of such length that when innormal position the antifriction rollers 0 upon the inner ends willtouch or very nearly touch each other. On each side of the truck anoperating lever 70 is pivotally mounted upon a longitudinal bearing Zsecured between the parallal panels of the transom. The outer end of theoperating lever is formed in the shape of a wedge s by tapering thesides till they meet at the bottom thereof. The wedge shaped end of theoperating lever is normally suspended above the adjacent antifrictionrollers upon the ends of the operating bars upon each side of the truckframe. Upon each side of the center of the transom bell crank levers nare pivoted upon the outer side of one panel having one arm extendingupward parallel with the panel and the other arm extending inwardthrough the panel to a point above the inner end of each operatinglever. The inner ends of the bell crank levers are connected to theinner ends of the operating levers by pivoted links and the upper outerends of the bell crank levers are connected together and to a mainoperating rod K.

As above stated the spring j upon each brakeshoe a normally withdrawsthe brakeshoe from contact with the wheel, and the adjacent ends of eachpair of operating rods f are in close proximity to each other. Whentension is applied to the main operating rod R, the power will betransmitted through the bell crank levers n and connecting links to theoperating levers 70 causing the wedge shaped ends 8 of the operatinglevers to enter between the antifriction rollers 0 on the ad j acentends of each pair of operating rods f thereby forcing the operating rodsaway from each other to transmit the power to the brakeshoes. When thetension on the main operating rod is released the parts will assumetheir original position.

By this construction a simple and effective wheel brake operatingmechanism is provided which will positively act under all conditions andas all of the operating parts are carried by the frame or transom it isimpossible for any of the parts to become disengaged and fall upon theties to thereby cause an accident or derail the wheels.

IV hat we claim is 1. In a device or the character described, a wheeltruck, a plurality of brakeshoes on each side of the truck, an operatingbar pivoted to each shoe, pivoted operating levers carried by the truckprovided with wedge shaped ends adapted to contact with and actuate theoperating bars, and an actuating member connected to the opposite endsof the operating levers and means to operate said actuating member.

2. In a device of the character described, a wheel truck, brakeshoessuspended from each side of the truck, horizontal operating bars mountedto reciprocate in bearings carried by the truck pivotally secured at oneend to a brakeshoe and having their opposite ends terminating inproximity to each other, a pivoted operating lever provided with awedged shaped portion adapted to engage between each of the operatingbars, a bell crank lever pivoted to the truck connected at one end orthe operating lever, and means to operate the bell crank lever.

3. In a device of the character described, a wheel truck having sideframes and a transom composed of parallel panels, a brakeshoe suspendedfrom the truck in proX- imity to the inner side of each wheel, ahorizontal bearing in each panel on each side, an operating bar adaptedto reciprocate in each bearing pivoted at one end to a brakeshoe andhaving an antit'riction roller at the opposite end, said operating barson each side being in line and terminating with rollers in proximity toeach other, an operating lever pivoted between the panels of the transomon each side of the center thereof, the free end of each lever having awedged shaped member adapted to enter between the adjacent rollers oneach side, a bell crank lever pivoted to the outer side of a panel oneach side of the center having an arm extended inward secured to anoperating lever and an arm extending upward on the outer side of thepanel, means connecting the upper ends of said levers to each other andmeans to apply power to said connection.

4. A vehicle brake operating mechanism comprising brake shoes,supporting means for said shoes, plunger rods connecting at one end withsaid brake shoes and mounted to slide toward and from each other, Wedgeblocks normally out of engagement with and operable between the innerends of said plunger rods to force them apart and operating means forsaid wedge blocks.

5. In a device of the character described, a wheel truck, brake shoes,operating bars connected at one end to a shoe and having their free endsadjacent to each other, an independent actuating means adapted to engagethe adjacent free ends of the operating bars, and means to reciprocatesaid actuating means into and out of engagement with the operating bar.

In testimony whereof we atfix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

G. M. BRAI-IAM. JOHN LILL. Vitnesses P. E. JOHNSON, G. H. JAooBsoN.

